Holding device for sucker rods



Feb. 26 1924. 1,485,308

. R. H. STEGEMAN aowme DEVICE FOR sucxsn nons Filed Deb. 22 1922 Patented Feb. 2%,1924.

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RALPH H. STEGEMAN, or ANAHEIM, oALIroaNIn.

HOLDING DEVICE r03 STICKER nons.

Application filed neeember 22,1922. Seria1 No; 608,585.

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residin at Anaheim, in the countyofOrange and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Holding Devices for Sucker Rods, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates todevices for holding sucker rods within well tubings, which operate to automatically engage and hold the sucker rod as it is withdrawn, section after section, from the tubing in order to permit unscrewing and removal ofthe withdrawn sections.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a holding device of the above described char-' acter which includes a plurality of jaws or gates mounted to occupy expanded position in which unrestricted upward movement of the sucker rod within the well tubing is permitted, and a contracted position in which they engage any one of the coupling members of the sucker rod to prevent downward movement of the latter within the tubing.

The jaws or gates are freely movable to eitherofthe two extreme positions so as to render the engagement thereof with the coupling members automatic in preventing 'downwar cally move to a cont-ractedposition to engage the coupling members and thus check the dropping of the sucker rod.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a holding device-for sucker rodsin which the jaws are mountedto prevent dis tortion thereof under the lateral strain ex' erted by the sucker rod as it is moved downwa-rdly into a position in which the cou-- pling member engages the jaws.

A further purpose of myinvention is a provision of simple and efficient means for manually and simultaneously movingall of the jaws to either contracted or expanded position, orto a fully openedposition in which the unrestricted movement of the sucker rod may be effected in either direction between the jaws.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of holding device embodying my invention, it is who under stood. that various changes and-modifications maybe made hereinwithout depart ing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit andscope'of'the appended claims.

, the sucker rod in section,

In the accompanying drawing, 7

Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation one former holding device embodying my invention, in' applied position with respect to a well tubing and sucker rod, 7 F

Figure'2 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 1 with the jaws in coupling engaging position, J

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the holding deviceshown in the preceding views with Figure 4 is a view showing the holding device in side elevation and with the jaws in fully opened position, I Figure 5 is a. vertical sectional view taken on the line 5+5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a view showing in side elevation another form of holding device embodying'my invention,

Figure 7 is a'detail view showing in per- 3 support 15 which is of annular form to promovement of the sucker rod within the tubing so that should the sucker rod be unintentionally released, the aws will au'tomati-- ;it is adapted to be applied." This support 15 is provided with a depending I collar 16 inwhich are mounted set screws 17,

' the collar receiving the upper end of a well tubing designated at 18 and thescrews being adjusted to engage the well'tubing so" as to securely clamp the support'upon the tubing. Thesupport -15-also includes projections 19 which are. bored longitudinally, as

indicated in' dash lines; in Figure 3, and

which provideabutments and mountings for the jaws of the holding-device.

The holding device includes twojaws 20 V and 21, which are recessed at their outer edges to accommodate the projections 19 and to provide spaced ears 22 which engage the opposite end of the ab'utments or projections in the manner clearly'shown in Figure 3. These jaws are shown as pivotally mounted upon the abutments or projections 19 by means of rods or shafts 23 and 24:, which extend through the bores of the projections 19 and throughthe ears22 ofthe jaws. As shown" in Figure 5, portions of the roids 23and24c are squared andwith cor- -resp'onding1y shaped openings formed in the ears so that rotation of the rods would effect movement of the jaws. The rods are confined within the projections and cars by means of nuts which are threadedly fitted on the free ends of the rods. The other ends of the rods are extended to provide means for simultaneously moving both of the jaws to any of the positions which the jaws are capable of occupying.

As clearly shown in Figure 4;, the rod 23 is provided at one end with a right angular extension 26 having a bent free end 27 which works within a slot 28. An arm 29 is fixed to the adjacent end of the rod 24: by means of one of the nuts 25. The other end of the rod 24 is extended by an operating crank 30 which is disposed at one side but in spaced relation to the support, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

In the operation of the holding device, a sucker rod designated at 31 can be extended through the support by moving the jaws 20 and 21 to fully opened position, as shown in Figure 4. lVhen withdrawing the sucker rod from the tubing 18, the coupling members designated at 32 will abut against the under side of the jaws so as to swing the latter from the contracted position shown in Figure 2 to the expanded'position shown in Figure 1, thereby permitting of the withdrawal of the sucker rod. As soon as any one coupling member 32 has passed beyond the jaws 20 and 21, the jaws will, by virtue of gravity, return to contracted position so as to prevent return movement of the sucker rod into the well tubing. The projecting section of the sucker rod will now be unscrewed and removed in the usual manner, and it will be understood that succeeding sections of the sucker rod can be withdrawn, held by the device and ultimately removed.

By virtue of the connection between the jaws 20 and 21, it will be clear that the movement of either jaw to expanded or contracted position will effect a corresponding movement of the other jaw, because the arm 29 fixed to the rod 24 has operative engagement with the rod 23 so that movement of either rod effects movement of the other. \Vhen it is desired to move the jaws to completely open position, as shown in Figure 4:, the crank 30 can be gripped to move and actuate the rod 24, thereby swinging the jaws to the elevated position shown.

It is to be particularly noted that the projections 19 of the support 15 are associated with the jaws 20 and 21 in such manner that the jaws are at all times in contact with the projections so that any lateral stress or strains exerted on the jaws will be taken up by the projections as the latter form abutments for the aws to prevent the latter from being distorted or torn from the support.

Referring now to Figure 6, I have here shown another form of holding device embodying my invention, in which the support and jaws are mounted in the same manner as described in connection with the first form of holding device. However, in the present form, a different operative connection is provided between the two jaws to effect simultaneous movement thereof. This connection, in the present instance, comprises quadrants 33 fixed to the rods 23 and 24 and arranged to mesh with each other at all times so that movement of either jaw operates the quadrants to effect a corresponding movement of the other jaw.

I claim as my inventioni 1. A holding device of the character described comprising a support, elongated projections formed on the support, jaws having recesses to receive the projections and ears engaging the ends of the projection, shafts extending through the ears and projections and fixed to certain of the ears, and means for rotating the shafts.

2. A holding device of the character described comprising a support, jaws, a mounting for movably supporting the jaws including shafts, an operative connection between the shafts and comprising a slotted arm whereby movement of one shaft effects a corresponding movement of the other shaft, and manually operable means for moving one of the shafts.

3. A holding device of the character described comprising a support having an opening therein through which a sucker rod is adapted to extend, and jaws mounted on the support to normally swing into position engaging beneath any coupling member of the sucker rod, upwardly extending abutment projections on said support serving to take up strains and stresses exerted on the jaws to prevent distortion or tearing of the jaws from the support.

4. A holding device of the character described comprising a support, a pair of jaws on said support, and a mounting for the jaws to permit the latter to occupy expanded or contracted positions, said mounting including shafts fixed t0 the jaws and extended beyond the jaws, with one of the shafts operatively connected by means of a slot to the other jaw, and the other shaft bent to provide a handle.

5. A holding device of the character described comprising a support, projections formed on the support,- shafts extending through the projections, jaws fixed to the shaft, and a slotted arm fixed to one of the shafts, the last mentioned shaft being provided with an extension bent to form a handle and the other shaft provided with an extension rod within the slot of said arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RALPH H. STEGEMAN. 

